Apparatus for knitting full fashioned hosiery



May'19, 1931.

E. J. THOMPSON x-:T AL

APPARATUS FOR KNIT'IING FULL FASHIONED HOSIERY Filed May 28, 1928 5 Sheets-shewl l mtl.

May 19, 1931. E. J. THOMPSON ET Al.

. APPARATUS FOR KNITTING FULL FASHIONED HOSIERY Filed May 28, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Edgar Thom/050, Rayma/ia /7. Hub/ef;

AWO/wey.

May '3.9, 19321. E. J. THOMPSON ET AL 1,805,893

APPARTUS FOR KNITTING. FULL FASHIONED HOSIERY Filed May 28, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Eag/'J 7"/20/22/050/7,

HMO/772K May 19, 1:1931.

E. J. THOMPSON ET AL.

APPARATUS FORAKNITTING FULL FASHIONED HQSIERY Filed May 28, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 @Iii 1 sst u ul

UUUUULIHDZEII May 19, 1931- E. J. THOMPSON ET AL, L8059893 APPARATUS FOR KNITTING' FULL FASHIONED HOSIERY Filed May 2a, 192e 5 sheetsheet 5 foga/'J W70/77,050,

Patented May 19, 1931 i UNITED ls'iAiEs PATENT OFFICE EDGAR' J. THOMPSON, or MONTREAL, QUEBEQAND RAYMOND n. HUBLER, or sirnam-y BROOKE, QUEBEC, CANADA, AssieNoRs 'ro oAN'fiiiIAN sink rRoiiucrsy LIMiTEiJ, or y SHERBROOKE; CANADA, A CORPORATION or QUEBEC APrARA'rUsFoR KNITTING FULL rAsHioNniinosinRY Appiieation mea May 2s, 192s. seriai No. asi/,246.

This invention relates primarily tor the knitting of full fashioned hosiery and more particularly to the incorporation of orna1 mental devices or designs in the knitted fabric, suchas in the heel portions lof fanciful design, clocksv and other like ornamentation, having irregular contours.

The principal object of the invention is to provide ja new and improved apparatus for making possible the knitting of` a greater variety of thesedesigns-on full fashioned knitting machines ofthe VCotton type than has been possible in the past.' Y l VA further ob'ect is to provide new land improved mechanism which will permit rof greater precision inthe formation of the various designs, and which can be easily and quickly adjusted when desired. ,e n v A further object is to provide a mechanism which canbe incorporated in a stand,- ard full fashioned machine with minimum disturbance ofthe parts, and' the cost ofinstalling of and subsequent maintenance ofy main cam shaft which extends throughout which Vwill be' comparatively small.

To this end the invention yconsists :of-the combination,construction and articular arrangement of the parts hereina ter `described and illustrated and pointed out inthe claims.

'For full comprehension of the invention y reference should be had to the accompanying drawings in which corresponding lreference characters indicate thel same parts in all the views. f y I 'Figure lis a fragmentary plan view of a standard full fashioned knitting machine showing the application of the invention thereto. y y f 5 Figure 2 is a verticalsectional view taken on line 2 2 Figure l.' -V l Figure 3 is a verticalsectional view vtaken online 3-3 Figure 1 and drawn to a larger scale. l f f .Figure 4 isa similar view to Figure 2 butv draw-n to a larger scale and illustrating particularly the ratchet mechanism Vfor operating the` abutment drum.

Figure 5 is a rearelevation. f FigureG is a detail plan view of one of the chain elements for actuating the abutment drumv ratchetmechanism.

7-7, Figure 6.

Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 are diagrammatic views of some of the .various heel contours vobtainable withthe present invention, Figure 8 showing the conventional pointed de; sign with `straight inclined stepped sides,

Figure 9 showing a heel design with concave sides, Figure 10 showing a design with convex sides and Figure ll showing ay design Figure 7 isa sectional view taken on line combining `both concave andconvex portions. j

Y Figure l12 is a diagrammatic planv view Y f of a portion of a stocking leg having heel portions with concave contours. y

v ,The drawings illustrate the preferred em'- bodiment of the invention` in a standard 4fully fashioned machine and, as'the generalgconknown in the art, onlythose parts ofthe machine that are necessary forfullcomprehension of the invention are shown.

Referring to these drawings, the4 vmain struction of machines of this type is well frame of the machine is indicated at 2, the

the length of the machine at 3, two adj oining sections or ,banks of 1needles in diagram at 4 and 5 respectively, thread carrier rods at 6, 7 and 8 respectively, thread carriersat 9, 10, 11, 12, -13 and 14 respectively. The

Vcarrier rod reciprocating mechanism is of usual construction shown.

and `consequently is not The function of the thread carriers, 'asis' well known in the art, is to feed the'yarnf 8f, Y

to theindividual needlebanks, the carrier rods `6, 7 and 8 travelling longitudinally in are mounted upon thecarrier rod 8, rhave v the maximum travel as they supply yarn,l

to the needles for the full width of the fabiric, whereas thread carriers 9 and l0, whichV are mounted on carrier rod 6, andfcarriers 11 and 12, which are mounted on rod 7, supply splicing or reinforcing thread such as is used in the heel portions of the stockingsy and their t-ravel, during the heel forming operation, is limited to a predetermined number of needles in each bank or section, the heel portions being produced in halves as is well known in the art.

As hereinbefore stated, the present invention relates to the incorporation of ornamental designs in the fabric during the initial knitting operation and more particularly to the formation of heel portions having irregular or fanciful outlines. Heretofore many attempts have been made to produce full fashioned hosiery with fanciful heel designs on straight knittingmachines of the Cotton type but, in most instances, these designs have only 'involved straight line contours such as the well known pointed heel designs that have been produced for VSome time. The purpose of this invention is to provide new and improved apparatus which will make possible' the production-of ornamental designs of this nature having curved as well as straight line contours on knitting machines of the aforementioned type. this end, new and improved means is provided for automatically determining the extent of travel of each splicing thread carrier for eachl course as the knittingoperation progresses, such means consisting of co-acting elements so constructed and arranged that curved or straight line contours maybe produced through simple adjustments.

This improved means comprises a duplex abutment drum rotatably mounted upon a horizontal axis in a fixed bracket overhanging the carrier rods, longitudinally Aadjustable stops on the rods, ratchetA and pawl mechanism for intermittently rotating the drum, variable means for timing the operation of the ratchet and pawl mechanism and means for synchronizing the last-mentioned means with the carrier rod reciprocating mechanism.

The abutment drum consists of spaced collars 16 and 17 united bya stub shaft 13 extendingY horizontally through the fixed bracket 19. These collars are rotatable a unit and their outermost ends aie provided with irregular abutment faces 20 and 2l. ln the illustrated embodiment, these faces are of spirally stepped form and they are so arranged that, when the drinn is rotated,

the steps are successively moved to positions obstructing the path of travel of stops 22 and 23, mounted upon and movable longitudinally in unison with carrier rods 6 and 7 the stops being threaded throughbrackets 22a and 23a for'longitudinaladjustment rel-` atively to these rods. The collars thus constitute automatically variable abutmenis which limit the inward reciprocal travel of the carrier rods and their respective thread carriers. yIn the illustrated embodiment they are precisely alike but are relatively reversed, this being essential owing to the ToV fact. that collar 17 limits inward travel of thread carriers 9 and 10 which supply splicing to the needles for forming the lefthalf portions of the heel, while collar 16 limits the inward travel of thread carriers 11 and ,512 which supply the splicing for the right lthe right will be determined by the location .of the abutment faces 2O and 21 relatively to the stops, minimum travel taking place when the points of greatest width of the collars are directly in longitudinal alignment with the stops and maximum travel occurring when the narrowest width is positioned a't these contact points. It is obvious therefore that the number of needles, supplied with splicing for each individual course, may be varied byv rotation ofthe drum.

This rotation is intermittently effected through ratchet mechanism consisting of a circumferential series of ratchet teeth 24 on collar 17, a ratchet pawl 25 adapted to engage the teeth, and a vertically-disposed rocker arm 26 hingedly mounted at its lower end as at 2,7 in a bracket 28 Vand pivotally carrying the pawl at its upper' end as at 29.

The-rocker arm has a lateral projection 30 which normally bears upon the top of a ixed pin 31 and it is. yieldingly retained in this position by a helical spring 32. rlhe free end of the projection is rounded olf as at 33 and constitutes a trip which co-acts with the variable means for actuating the ratchet mechanism at predetermined intervals. |This variable means consists of yan endless sprocket chain 34 carrying as a component part thereof a series' of spaced externally projecting elements 35 which are arranged to successively engage the trip 33 and through it intermittently rock the arm 26. rlhe chainv is looped successively around sprocket wheel 36 located directly in rear of the rocker arm and in close proximity thereto, sprocket wheel 37 mounted in a rearwardly extending bracket 38 on the main frame, sprocket 39 to be presently described and a sheave 40, which is deeply flanged to accommodate the projections without fear of displacement. It is important that the chain be kept taut during its' travelas the spacing of the elements 35 has an important bearing on the main knitting operation. Any preferred means for obtaining this result may be employed, that illustrated consisting of a counter weight 41 which is suspended from the chain through sprocket 39 and at the same time acts as a bearing for the latter. rlhe projections 35, which may be termed the cou-rse measuring elements, as they determine the number' of courses knitted for each change of longitudinal travel of the splicing carriers, con- Yiso llt

l0, the inward travel l eing terminated by the engagement o t stop 22 With abutment colla-r 16. On this return movement the thread carriers 9 and l() and 13 and l-l return to their starting points, the reciprocal movements of the various carrier rods relative`y to one another being timed by means weil known in the art. These reciprocal movements of the thread carriers continue to points B-B on the fabric, the stops 22 and 23 functioning on alternate reciprocations, and the abutment drum, being intermittently rotated by the travel ot the endless chain, the movement of which is synchronized with the action ot the carrier rods through cam 43 as hereinbcfore pointed out. lVhe-n the points B-B on the ita-bric have been reached, rotation ot the abutment drum is automatically stopped by the simultaneous arrival of a smooth external portion Y located Within the circumferential series of drum ratchet teeth, this portion rendering the pa-vvl 25 inactive in so the drum is concerned. If desired, the pawl 5l may be moved manually out of engagement with ratchet i9 to eliminate further travel oit' the chain, the latter having completed its l'unction. Continued operation forms the heel flaps of the fabric, stops 22 and 23 continuing to engage the abutment drum alternately but the latter remaining idle.

In order to prevent the abutment drum from exceeding the normal rotation given it by paWl v24a collar 17 is provided With an external band 7l and a braking strip 72, of felt or any other suitable material, is held in frictional engagement therewith by a bracket 73 having a portion curved concentrically with the periphery or" the band.

The illustration and description of only two adjoining sections or banks of needles has been adopted forpurposes oi" brevity, being thought to be sutlicient for a full comprehension of the invention and it is presumed to be obvious that all the sections or banks oic needles of the entire machine can be controlled from the one abutment drum, the latter and its associatedparts being located Vatany point throughout the length ot the machine found to be preferable.

It should also be pointed out that no attempt has been made herein to illustrate the extensive variety of designs that the present invention makes possible, those specifically referred to being' thought suihcient for present purposes.

lVhat We claim is as follows:

l. In a machine of the type described, reci )rocatory thread carriers, an intermittently rotatable stepped abutment for varying` the length` of reciprocal travel ol the carriers. at predetermined course intervals, an endless chain, a series of spaced cam elements carried by said chain, ratchet mechanism adapted and arranged to be intermittently actuated by said elements to turn said abutment, and means for driving said chain.

2. ln a machine of the type described, reciprocatory thread carriers, an intermittently rotatable stepped abutment tor varying the length oil reciprocal travel ot said carriers at preoetermined course intervals, ratchet mechanism for intermittently rotating the abutment, a trip device forming a component part of' the said mechanism, an endless chain, a series of spaced cani elements carried by said chain in a path intersected by said trip, whereby said ratchet mechanism is intermittently rotated to turn said abutment at course intervals determined by the spacing ot said cam elements and means for driving said cha-in in unison, With the reciprocation of said thread carriers.

3. ln a machine or" the type described, reciprocatory thread carriers, a rotatable stepped abutment .tor varying thel length oi reciprocal travel ot' said carriers at predetermined course intervals, ratchet mechanism for intermittently rotating said abutment, said mechanism consisting or' a ratchet Wheel forming a component part or" said abutment, a normally stationary pawl, a rocker carrying said pawl in operative engagei'nent With said ratchet Wheel, a trip on said rocker, an endless chain, a series of spaced cam elements carried by said chain and adapted to successively eneage said trip, and actuate said paivl, each displacing movement of the paWl rotating the abutment to a limited extent, and meansv tor driving said chain in timed relation With the reciprocation of said thread carriers.

l. In a machine of the type described, reciprocatory thread carriers, an intermittently rotatable stepped abutment for varying the length of reciprocal travel of the carriers at predetermined course intervals, and a series of spaced travelling cam elements constructed and arranged to drive successively to a limited extent the abutment at course intervals determined by the relative spacing of the elements, a continuously rotating driving shaft, means for intermittently driving the said elements synchronously from said shaft, and means tor manually driving the said elements independently of the first mentioned driving means substantially as described.

5. ln a machine ot' the 'type described, reciprocatory thread carriers, a rotatable stepped abutment for varying the length orn reciprocal travel of the carriers at predetermined course intervals, stops on the carriers constructed and arranged to engage thestepped portions of the abutment, a circumferential series of ratchet teeth on said abutment, a rocher arm 'tulcrumed in fixed position adjacent thereto, a paWl pivotally mounted upon said arm and in engagement with the said teeth, a laterally projecting trip on said arm, a stop limiting movement of the arm away from the abutment, means yieldingly retaining the trip in engagement with said stop, a sprocket wheel located adjacent to the said trip and rotatable on an axis in parallelism with the axis of the abutment, an endless sprocket chain looped over said sprocket wheel, a series 'of spaced cam elements on said chain, said chain being movable in a longitudinal path at right angles to the axis of the abutment to cause said cam elements to successively engage and displace said trip at course intervals determined by the spacing` of the elements for the purpose of intermittently driving the ratchet for rotating the abutment, a continuously rotating driving shaft, a cam keyed on said shaft, a rocker arm fulcrumed in fixed position adjacent said cam and constructed and arranged to be rockedthereby, ratchet mechanism `rotatively connected to the said sprocket wheel, and a connecting rod effecting an operativewconnection between the said rocker arm and said ratchet mechanism, substantially as described.

6. In a machine of the type described, horizontally disposed reciprocatory thread carriers, stops on the carriers, a bracket overhanging said carriers, a shaft extending horizontally through the bracket and rotatable therein, an `intermittently rotatable duplex abutment for varying.: the length of reciprocal travel ofthe carriers at predetermined course intervals, said abutment consisting of collars mounted upon the 'respective ends of said shaft and rotatable in unison therewith, each collar having a stepped abutment face limiting the travel of one ofthe said stops, one of the said collars having a circumferential series of ratchet teeth, a rocker arm fulcrumed adjacent the said teeth, a pawl carried by said arm in operative engagement With the teeth, a trip device on said arm, a sprocket wheel located adjacent said trip device, an endless sprocket chain looped over said sprocket wheel, a

lseries of spaced cam elements on said chain and constructed and arranged to successively engage said trip device to drive the ratchet to intermittently rotate said abutment, and means` for driving said chain, substantially as described.

7. In a machine of the type described, horizontally disposed reciprocatory thread carriers, stops on the carriers, an intermittently rotatable stepped abutment located adjacent the carriers substantially midway the length thereof in the paths of the stops for varying the reciprocal travel of the carriers at predetermined course intervals, ratchet mechanism for rotating said abutment, a trip device forming a component part of said mechanism, a horizontally disposed shaft located in juxtapositiony with the" axis of `the abutment, a Isprocket wheel keyed/on said shaft," an endless sprocket chain looped ,over said sprocket Wheel, a series of spacedcam'elements on said chain, said.vk elements .being constructed and ar# ranged torftravel in af path intersected saidtrip to drivethe'pratchet andintermittently rotate said abutment, a ratchet wheel keyed' upon said sprocket shaft'ya ratchet lever fulcrumed at one end onsaid shaft, a vpawl ypivoted on said lever' land adapted yto assume positions in or!r out ofengage ment with said'ratchet wheel, av continuously rotating'driving shaft, a cam* onsaid shaft, f

able therewith, and a spring impelled plung-` er' pin slidably mounted in fixed position adjacent the notched wheel and adapted to yieldingly fit into the notches therein.

8. In a machine of the type described, reciprocatory thread carriers, an intermittently rotatable stepped abutment for varyv ing the length of reciprocal travel of the carriers at predetermined course intervals,

ratchet mechanism for rotating the abutment, a trip device forming a component part of the ratchetl mechanism, a sprocket wheel located in fixed position adjacent the trip device, a sprocket chain looped over said sprocket wheel,`a series of cam elementson said chain and movable in a path intersected by said trip whereby the ratchet mechanism isactuated, power drivenmeans for driving said chain, means for manually driving the chain independently of the power driven means, and escapeinent means 'yieldingly controlling the travel of said chain, substantially as described. l

9. In a machine of the type described,re ciprocatory thread carriers, stops on the carriers, an intermittently rotatable stepped abutment for varying the length ofreciprocal travel of the carriers, ratchet mechanisml for intermittently rotating.V the abutment, a trip lforminga component part of the ratchet mechanism, a shaft rotatably mounted in juxtaposition with the axis of the abutment,

a sprocket keyed on said shaft, an endless sprocket chain looped over said sprocket, a series of cam elements on said chain adapted to travel in a path intersected by said trip to actuate said ratchet mechanism, means for intermittently driving said chain, vmeans for independently driving said chain manu ally, `consisting 'of clutch ymembers 4on said sprocketl shaftonevixed thereto and the other free, and a crank arm on said free member. and `escapement means yieldingly controlling the travel of said chain, said last mentioned means consisting `of a notched Wheel fixed Aon said sprocket shaft and rotatable therewith, va spring impelled plunger pin slidably mounted in fixed position relatively to the notched Wheel and adapted to yieldingly engage the notches therein, and means for .at times releasing the Wheel from said pin, substantially as described.

Signedat the cit-y of Sherbrooke, Province of Quebec, Canada,- this third day of May,

' EDGAR J THOMPSON.

RAYMOND H. HUBLER. 

